The Supreme Court has made a significant decision regarding a North Dakota state House district situated on an American Indian reservation. The Court ruled in favor of upholding the district, dismissing a challenge brought forth by local Republican officials.
Previously, a three-judge court had already rejected the Republicans' lawsuit, citing that North Dakota lawmakers had valid reasons for establishing the district. The creation of the district aimed to provide Native Americans with a better opportunity to elect their preferred candidate, in accordance with the federal Voting Rights Act.
The Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation had advocated for the preservation of the district, and the Supreme Court's decision aligns with their stance.
Meanwhile, a separate legal matter is ongoing, as a federal appeals court is currently reviewing a lower-court ruling that mandated the establishment of a new joint legislative district in North Dakota. This new district was proposed to accommodate two other tribes that had raised concerns about the redistricting plan implemented by lawmakers in 2021, asserting that it undermined their voting influence. The new district was utilized during the 2024 elections.
